May 2019

May 30, 2019

Yesterday I took a bit of time to do one of those things that has been on my to-do list for some time....transferring all my Flickr photos over to Google photos. It took a bit of time, as I had too many to download at once, so I had to divvy them up into albums, then download, then upload. But damn. Those photos of my babies. I miss those little guys.

May 27, 2019

Lazy day today. We'd talked about going out to the cemetery for the Memorial Day events but forgot until it was too late. I've been fussing with some work on the computer. Leo is upstairs editing his photos, listening to music, and laughing at something periodically. Owen got restless and went for a drive. Ernie is doing a crossword puzzle he's had set aside since November. The cats are all sleeping. It's a quiet day, but a nice one. Tomorrow we all head back to real life.

Leo shared a few things with me. Check out this video on Reddit. He and Ernie are the red Honda that is at the very beginning of the video He also kindly shared a few pictures of my new favorite rock star, Ed Dickens, head of the Union Pacific's heritage operations. I am one of about a million people that developed a crush on him.

And here's one from Leo's Flickr page...he just started publishing to it; there will be lots more to come. I love his commentary, as well as the picture.

At approximately 6:30 AM, May 6th, 2019, UP 4014 & 844 arrived in Granger, Wyoming. The early morning light paired with the relative cool air meant that those of us who were lucky enough to be there were greeted with an absolutely unbelievable, gorgeous sight. The steam was bright and voluminous and the locomotives were bathed in an unforgettable orange sheen. The sun cooperated well, but it wasn't long after the massive train stopped that the orange was lost and things returned to normal.

May 23, 2019

1. I realize I forgot to post our classic post-show picture from the Ray Bonneville house concert. It felt lonely with only Ray so I got a few others to join us. Thank you, Richard (and Steve, and Ray, and Mary, and Heather). And please note that there are three French-Canadians in the middle there.

2. I left for a meeting yesterday and as I walked out there were odd footprints in the mud that always gathers by the alley when it rains. I paused to ponder them as I pulled out of the alley in Leo's car.....wondering if was our resident woodchuck, when I saw a snake curled up on top of a daylily. I was on the phone with Owen telling him about the woodchuck tracks or whatever, so I squealed and said, "oh mh god, I just saw a snake." He patiently told me to drive on, so I did. The snake was small and looked all shiny and new (oh good god, ever since I made Owen watch Desperately Seeking Susan he's been playing Madonna...I never imagined this.), but STILL.

3. Earlier, Owen's home because of his poor bronchitis-y chest) I yelled up to him, "How do you feel about spiders?" I then explained that there was one in the bathroom closet. He called down from his room, "Do you want me to kick its ass?" I assured him I did, so he came stomping down a bit later pulling his gardening gloves on. He was victorious. He threw his gloves on the floor and yelled, "I kicked its ASS!"

4. Ernie and Leo are in Buffalo, Wyoming at the Occidental Hotel. It's a tad too Victorian for Leo's tastes, but Ernie loves it and says the people are lovely. At least Ernie went to the Saloon as I had requested.

5. LONGMIRE!

6. The washer doesn't seem to be working. Sigh.

7. I'm not sure what's going on, but I THINK I expressed Hattie's anal gland. That was not enjoyable. I've given birth, raised children, taken care of people dying of cancer and old age ailments, and this may have been the most revolting thing yet. Is there more in store for me? Hattie seems happier and is eating. Damned if I know.

8. Yet again, it has been proven that nobody can hurt your feelings as much as those you love. Owen took me to Huber's and bought me wine and popcorn though. Eh. There are always silver linings.

May 21, 2019

I told them that I MUST have a picture of the two of them together and they actually did! My beautiful boys.

They visited several Milwaukee Road substations. Leo climbed under a barbed wire fence so he could explore the abandoned building. Who is this guy? Check out his Instagram stories for some pictures and video from the day. Lord, I love him. I can't wait to have them both back.

Yet again, they came through for me with some signs and buildings.

And in honor of the signs and the rumbling from outside..... Thunderstorms and Neon Signs

I have not added legumes back into my diet. Ok, I do occasionally steal a peanut or two when I'm at Fries and Peanuts, but generally, I am still avoiding them. Until I have a not particularly great day, I'm still hungry after my dinner, and there's a jar of peanuts in the pantry.

oh good God.

I have been curled up in bed all morning absolutely miserable. Now I know. No peanuts.

I finally dragged myself out of bed because Bob and Rascal were competing over who could curl up next to me because SOMEBODY gets very jealous. After one last dick move by Rascal I said the hell with it and came downstairs. I am attempting some water and Hattie is now tucked next to me. I'm trying to enjoy my time with Bob, as come Friday evening he will once again not be aware of my presence. Yes, my boys....FRIDAY. I'm a bit worried about their weather today as they trek off into Montana to find old Milwaukee Road substations. I've had no answers to my texts but they probably don't have service. They end up in Missoula tonight, and tomorrow they head home: Missoula to Buffalo, Wyoming (where Longmire was filmed (!) and I booked them a cool old hotel) then the next day to Omaha, and finally, to ME AND OWEN!

Owen trudged off to school today but I know he still feels lousy. He feels so vindicated when I dismiss something and then a doctor takes it seriously. It's worth being a bad mother to give him such pleasure!

Now, just feast your eyes on the pictures they sent me last night. I could not love them more for getting off the highway to take a picture of this for me.

May 20, 2019

The dishwasher is acting mysteriously, and not really working well. Standing water and weird smells.

The refrigerator was making a problematic sound but it seems to have taken pity on me and stopped.

Hattie is just not well.

Had to take Owen to the doctor today. Turns out he has bronchitis. $78 for the antibiotics. Thank you American health care system. He was supposed to get an inhaler too but the prescription somehow didn't make it to the pharmacy...and since it would be another $80 and she said to only use it for a day or two, we may see how the antibiotics do.

It's cold again, but that one really hot day fried my tree peonies.

I'm getting grumpy.

Post house concert letdown.

I miss my guys.

I'll miss having all the pillows to myself, but it's time.

Come on Friday.

And just to end things on a more pleasant note....here is a picture of our beloved engines.....and the little car that was chasing them along with everybody else.

The Big Boy 4014 portion of the guys' trip is now over. The Big Boy and the 844 got home to Cheyenne yesterday. I watched some of Trains Magazine's live feed. As they talked about it doing a victory lap as it headed into the shed I almost got teary. What a glorious, glorious beast and what an accomplishment, and tribute.

The other glorious accomplishment is that of Leo's trip. He has planned and saved for this trip for years and had every route and day figured out perfectly. I am immensely proud of him. Ernie and I haven't necessarily given the boys the best lessons in making money or climbing corporate ladders, but we have taught them to believe in their loves and to have passions. Well, I don't suppose we have taught them, they always were pretty hard-wired little guys, but we encouraged them, just as my parents encouraged my passions. There are different kinds of successes in life. Owen and I were just talking about that yesterday. I am proud of my boys for who they are and the strong personalities that they own so beautifully. I'm particularly proud of this beautiful boy today, as he and Ernie head into rural Montana and winter weather. Yes. Snow.

They leave the Union Pacific and the Big Boy and head off to hunt for Milwaukee Road substations.

I talked to Ernie for a bit last night. He and Leo are utterly exhausted. And you know if 19-year-old Leo is exhausted, the um, slightly older Ernie must be totally wiped out. I've asked them to stop on their trip to Billings, Montana and get a picture of the Mint Bar in Sheridan. We shall see. They spurned my request AGAIN that they go the Luxury Diner in Cheyenne. They don't understand that it's not that I really care about what they're eating...I just want to live vicariously...and the Luxury has some nice neon. Oh well. They DID come through with some wonderful pictures for me from Cheyenne, so I can't complain.

May 19, 2019

Oh, that was a good one. Great, great music from Ray Bonneville last night. And wonderful company and food and drink. Thank you all so much! And thanks to my baby, Owen, for coming through...doing so much around the house, doing the soundcheck with Ray, and every other little thing I asked him to do. He came through big time, and although that wasn't a surprise, it was really lovely to see. My sweet pea.

That's Owen in the process of texting a picture to his Dad, and saying, "This is good shit, Pa." Here's the picture he sent.

Ray came over this morning and made his own eggs. I wish I had a picture. It was delightful. Thanks to my beloved Neighbor Barb for letting Ray park his camper at her place and use her house while she was gone---and for Bud for helping to coordinate!

After eggs with Ray, Owen and I hung out, sat on the porch and talked. It was so nice out we went to Fries and Peanuts and sat OUTSIDE! A radical move on my part. Oh, and you know you have a great bartender when he knows Owen's thirst for lemonade and brings a whole pitcher.

I'm doing the post house concert lazy thing and being lazy. Listened to it rain for a bit, now doing some reading and drinking a bit of leftover wine.